"If we do complete a trade, we're trading out a 30 to 40 goal scorer," Howson said Friday. "Defense is probably the strongest part of our team if we look at it today, so we're looking to get some NHL forwards back first and foremost."

Howson has taken criticism for setting Nash's price too high—the winger, after all, is 28 years old with declining goal totals and a $7.8 million cap hit through 2019. Howson defended that stance, saying that there's no deadline for a deal and that the Blue Jackets continue to work for what they perceive as an appropriate return.

"I have a value that I've placed on Rick and that our whole organization has placed on Rick," Howson said. "He's an elite player, he's been a tremendous ambassador for our franchise and our city and we're very comfortable with the value we've placed on him and until we get that value, we're going to keep working away at it."

Nash requested a trade in January 2012, and Howson's attempts to move him have been thus far unsuccessful.

Penguins

Pittsburgh want a a winger to pair with Sidney Crosby and made a run at Zach Parise on July 1. They're also interested, to different reported degrees, in free agents Alexander Semin and Shane Doan. In short, they have the desire and cap space for a Nash trade to make sense. What they lack are quality NHL-ready forwards beyond their established stars.

Tyler Kennedy is still just 26 but couldn't build on a 21-goal 2010-11 season. Though he had 33 points in 2011-12, he didn't do much to support coach Dan Bylsma's assertion that he'd be a candidate for top-six time in 2012-13. Still, he's a young veteran with experience, a track record of decent production for a third-liner, and the best realistic roster option the Penguins have to send back to the Blue Jackets. Former first-round pick Beau Bennett is 20 and spent last season with the University of Denver. That didn't stop Bylsma from mentioning him as a possible top-six forward for next season, though it's tough to imagine that as much more than 1) a show of confidence in a player that had an impressive prospect camp 2) attempting to prove that the Penguins have internal options and offset any perceived desperation on their part to make a move 3) build up Bennett's value in anticipating of a potential trade. Eric Tangradi and Dustin Jeffrey both have NHL experience, but whatever luster they had as prospects is starting to fade.

It should be noted that the Penguins have an almost ridiculous stockpile of young defenseman of various pedigrees: First-round picks Simon Despres, Joe Morrow, Derrick Pouliot and Olli Maata and OHL star Scott Harrington lead the way, with several others clocking in behind them.

Flyers

Before free agency began, Howson and the Flyers were talking, according to CSNPhilly.com. The issue, as always, was Howson's reported asking price: either Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier or one of the young centers with several other pieces, according to CSN.

Philly didn't bite, for good reason. The Flyers acquired Schenn's brother Luke in June from the Toronto Maple Leafs. That deal, interestingly enough, cost them James van Riemsdyk—who likely would've been a major component of a Nash-to-Philly deal.

Couturier, meanwhile, had 27 points as an 18-year-old last season and has the makings of a shutdown defensive center. Philadelphia drafted him with the 2011 first-round pick it acquired from the Blue Jackets in the Jeff Carter trade. Carter lasted about a half season in Columbus before Howson flipped him to the Kings for a first-round pick and defenseman Jack Johnson.

Rangers

Brandon Dubinsky has always been a logical part of a theoretical Nash-to-Rangers package, and the teams have reportedly been in on-and-off discussions since the trade deadline. Dubinsky, 26, is obviously NHL-ready, but he's coming off an injury-filled, unproductive season.

The Rangers have several other impactful forwards in the NHL already, which is part of what makes them the most logical landing spot for Nash. Artem Anisimov and Carl Hagelin are the ones the Rangers would likely part with. Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan, according to the New York Post, are non-starters. JT Miller and Christian Thomas are top prospects, but they're not ready to play in the NHL.

Bruins

David Krejci was floated by CSN New England as a potential chip for a Bobby Ryan trade. The 26-year-old center is Boston's highest-paid forward ($5.25 million AAV through 2015) and had 62 points last season. Shipping out Krejci would also allow All-Star Tyler Seguin to move to his preferred position full-time.

Young winger Jordan Caron also seems like a potential option—the 21-year-old former first-round pick had 15 points in 48 games last season. It's also easy to imagine Howson asking for gigantic winger Milan Lucic, who has consecutive 30- and 26-goal seasons and can become a restricted free agent after 2012-13. It's just as easy to imagine Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli laughing at that.

Red Wings

Detroit's best young roster forward is 22-year-old Gustav Nyquist, who earned playing time at the end of the regular season and playoffs. Before that, in his first season with the team's AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, Mich., he had 58 points in just 56 games and made the AHL all-rookie team.

Beyond Nyquist, the next best NHL option is third-line center Darren Helm, but the 25-year-old just signed a four-year extension paying him an average of $2.5 million. That, combined with the fact that he's a favorite of coach Mike Babcock, likely rules him out.

Sharks

Whether Howson actually asked for 21-year-old All-Star Logan Couture isn't clear, but it's beyond difficult to imagine the Sharks dealing away a player younger, cheaper and as productive as Nash. Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe are both established top-six forwards in their late 20s. Pavelski, though, is coming off his first career 30-goal season. Charlie Coyle would've been a prime option, but San Jose sent him to the Minnesota Wild as part of the Brent Burns package.